Which players should Sunderland try to keep above all others this summer?
With speculation swirling about the futures of several key members of our squad, we asked our writers to nominate two players they’d want to see stay on Wearside after the summer.
I’m not even going to bother considering Jack Clark since he’s a given; if he’s not the first name on everyone’s mind when discussing which player you’d like to keep the most, I’m not sure what planet I’m on.
That being said, we’ve already seen a lot of our players connected with moves away, and the summer hasn’t even begun yet – I’m sure it’ll get even more frantic as the days and weeks pass, because, while this season may not have been a success, we still have some excellent young talent in our ranks.
First off I’d have to go with Chris Rigg. The boy is going to be a superstar, and to be starting games in the Championship at the age of 16 just shows how much potential he’s actually got. There have been rumours he’s already verbally agreed a professional deal with the club, but there have been just as many rumours about him leaving and I suppose we’ll never be able to put those to bed until a long term contract is confirmed. Even if Rigg only spent another three years at Sunderland, by that point he’d be 20 year old and with a full career still ahead of him. I think he’s a better player than most the lads who have been ahead of him in the pecking order and he’ll only get better – he could be an important part of our promotion push next season if he’s kept around and made to feel important, because the ability is certainly there.
Second, I’ll go with Callum Sty… only kidding, don’t be silly. I’ll choose Dan Neil. He’s become more important than many of us realise, and while I believe he has a lot of room for improvement (someone should give him shooting lessons over the summer), I believe he’d easily make the step up to Premier League football if given the chance, and teams will be sniffing around. He’s been a first-teamer for a time now, and we need as many of these guys as we can keep them, especially given how little experience we have in the squad.
Malc Dugdale says…
I’m going to call out Jack Clarke, and he’s the first one on my list by a country mile.
The last couple of games have been an improvement despite two 0-0 draws, and a major factor has been Clarke’s return from injury.
Even when doubly marked, which he is roughly 80% of the time, he causes such terror in defenses that even if he does not score or create himself, he stretches play and draws opponents’ attention at the very least.
He is a thoroughbred attacker who was a fantastic acquisition when we signed him in January 2022.
I fully expect a bid that we cannot refuse, but if we can build around Clarke and bring on a new head coach, it could mean the difference between a serious push for promotion and a mid-table finish, and if we can also add a quality striker, we could be a force to be reckoned with.
My second choice would be Dan Ballard.
The partnership he’s built with Luke O’Nien has gone from strength to strength and the way they deprived Leeds of two points was an absolute joy to experience.
They played right on the edge of legality but they did a huge job on Leeds’ attack and shut them out when so many others have struggled to do so, and taking four points from six against Leeds this season is something that not many other teams have done.
Ballard is improving and growing hugely over time and if we lost him as the keystone of our defence, we’ll really struggle to replace him.
There was a decrease in his output following his recent injury and suspension, but managing Patrick Bamford on Tuesday night speaks volumes about his current and future abilities.
With Clarke and Ballard on the squad when the summer window closes, we’ll be well-prepared for 2024/2025.
Without one or both, I doubt we’ll have a season like 2022/22023. Our transfer market gambles did not pay off at the end of last season, so we must seriously consider hanging onto such assets.
Tom Albrighton says…
I’d suggest the players to keep at all costs would be Dan Neil and Trai Hume.
They have quality in abundance and can excite the fans like no other, and with Neil you have a technically sound, tenacious local lad willing to give everything for the shirt.
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